Transmission-line connector and the like



I. S. BLONDER Oct. 21, 1969 TRANSMISSION-LINE CONNECTOR AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 22, 1967 m mm VN m S m M 2 G H 6 1 4 V 1 w 3 8 NO i? ATTORNEYS 3,474,390 TRANSMISSION-LINE CONNECTOR AND THE LHQE Isaac S. Blonder, West Orange, N.J., assignor to Blonder- Tongue Electronics, Newark, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Sept. 22, 1967, Ser. No. 669,762 Int. Cl. H01r 11/20, 13/64, 33/04 US. Cl. 339-99 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to transmission-line connectors and the like, being more particularly directed to connectors of the solderless type in which the insulation of the line is pierced during a clamped connection.

Among solderless connectors of this type are those described in my prior U.S. Letters Patent Nos. 3,001,169 and 3,293,592, which have been found to work admirably in practice, particularly for coaxial transmission lines. There are occasions, however, as in the ready connection to antennas and the like, where a reliable, fast and sure connection to insulation-covered twin-lead or parallel-wire lines is required, as distinguished from coaxial constructions, and where it is highly desirable for the installer to have but a single fastening, clamping or securing element to tighten in order to establish connection to both conductors of the transmission line, and where such fastening is preferably effective through an insulating, as distinguished from a conductive, fastening element. The adaptability of such a rapid, solderless connector for selectively plugging into receptacles with a locked connection that withstands inadvertently applied strain, tension, or pulling, is another feature sought in such a connector, but not previously attainable without expensive locking devices and, usually, tubular prong connectors that require solder connections therein.

An object of the present invention, accordingly, is to provide a new and improved connector of the abovedescribed type that remarkably obviates the previously mentioned disadvantages and problems and provides for the facile connection of insulated parallel-wire transmission lines and the like to solderless conectors that permit of ready locked connection to wall receptacles and the like.

In summary, this end is attained through a novel construction in accordance with which the transmission line is clamped by an insulating plug to a plurality of blades that integrally extend into novel substantially V-shaped locking plugs. Preferred constructional details are hereinafter set forth.

A further object is to provide a novel connector apparatus of more general utility, also.

Other and further objects are later described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, FIG. 1 of which is an exploded isometric view, illustrating the novel plug portion of the connector of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation of the receptacle portion for receiving the plug; and

nited States Patent 0 3,474,390 Patented Oct. 21, 1969 FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the assembled plug and receptacle taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 1, the connector is shown comprising a plastic or similar insulating housing 1, illustrated as of pyramidal shape, provided with a substantially cylindrical recess 3 extending from its uper end (shown to the left at 3) into the body of the housing, and terminating at its closed bottom (or right-hand) end wall 3". A pair of preferably substantially V-shaped conductive blades 2 and 2' is provided, mounted at spaced regions within the bottom wall 3 and extending slightly thereabove into the recess (to the left in FIG. 1) to expose their preferably serrated cutting edges. These exposed cutting edges at 2 and 2' will be caused to penetrate the insulation 5 of a parallel-wire transmission line 44, establishing solderless electrical connection with at least two points of each line, as a result of the V-shaped blade construction, when (1) the line 54-4 is laterally inserted into the recess 3 through the side opening 7 and over the region of the blades 2 and 2', and (2) when an insulating plug 9, of cross-section less than that of the recess 3, but sufi'icient at the end portion 9" to overlie the blade regions, is threadedly locked (as by engagement of the plug threads 9" within the recess threads 3", or otherwise) down into the recess 3 and tightly against the line 5-4-4. Thus, a simple line-insertion step, and a single fastening step with an insulating plug, rapidly establishes reliable multipoint clamping and electrical connection functions and provides, conversely, for easy disconnection as well.

Further in accordance with the invention, adaptability for locked insertion into or removal from receptacles is provided by integral extensions from the blades 2 and 2' external to the housing bottom wall 3" (to the right), respectively shown as prongs 20 and '20 formed into V- shaped cross section, though with arms smaller than those of the blades 2 and 2. The open edge of the Vs of these prongs 20 and 20 preferably face each other and are intended to be inserted within corresponding V-shaped apertures 20" and 20" in an insulating receptacle 6, such as a wall outlet, the rear side of which is illustrated in FIG. 2. One arm (shown as the right-hand one) of each of the V-shaped apertures 20 and 20" is covered by downwardly terminally curved leaf springs 8 and 8', urged against respective insulating stops 10 and 10 as a result of resilient mounting from respective binding posts 12 and 12'. Thus, one arm of each prong 20 and 20' will ride against and over the coresponding curved springs 8 and 8' and lock over the springs within the apertures 20" and 20" at respective notches 21 and 21'. An insulating guiding pin 23, rearwardly extending from the housing bottom wall 3", disposed between the prongs 20 and 20 and preferably longer than such prongs, will enable guiding into the receptacle as the pin 23 enters a corresponding intermediate aperture 23' in the receptacle 6.

Clearly deviations from the precise geometrical shapes above-discussed can be made; and further modifications will also suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, all such being considered to fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A connector for an insulation-covered parallel-wire transmission line and the like having, in combination, an insulating housing provided with a substantially cylindrical recess extending from its upper end into the body of the housing and terminating at a closed bottom wall of the housing, a pair of conductive blades mounted at spaced regions within said bottom wall and extending thereabove into the recess to expose the cutting edges thereof, said blades having substantially V-shaped cross-sections defined by corresponding pairs of blade arms, portions of said blades mounted within said bottom wall extending therethrough and into a corresponding pair of integral connector prongs, said prongs having substantially V-shaped cross-sections parallel to said bottom Wall defined by corresponding pairs of prong arms, the said arms of said blades being longer than those of said prongs, a guiding pin extending in the direction of but between said prongs rearwardly and externally of said bottom wall and integrally connected thereto, an opening disposed in a side wall of the housing near the said bottom wall to permit the insertion of an insulation-covered parallel-wire transmission line and the like laterally into said recess and directly over the said blades, and an insulating plug of cross-dimension less than that of the recess having a bottom portion of cross-dimension sufiicient to overlie the said spaced regions of said bottom wall and a portion provided with means for locking within the recess in order to enable the tightening of the plug into the recess to cause the said plug bottom portion to press the insulated parallel-wire line and the like against said blades such that the blades pierce the insulation and conductively engage the line.

2. A connector as claimed in claim 1 and in which the said pin is longer than the said connector prongs.

3. A connector for an insulation-covered parallel-wire transmission line and the like having, in combination, an insulating housing provided with a substantially cylindrical recess extending from its upper end into the body of the housing and terminating at a closed bottom wall of the housi g, a pair of conductive blades mounted at spaced regions within said bottom wall and extending thereabove into the recess to expose the cutting edges thereof, the portions of said blades mounted within said bottom wall extending therethrough and into a corresponding pair of integral connector prongs of substantially V-shape in crosssection parallel to said bottom wall, a guiding pin extending in the direction of but between said prongs rearwardly and externally of said bottom Wall and integrally connected. thereto, an opening disposed in a side wall of the housing near the said bottom wall to permit the insertion of an insulation-covered parallel-wire transmission line and the 40 like laterally into said recess and directly over the said blades, an insulating plug of cross-dimension less than that of the recess having a bottom portion of cross-dimension sufficient to overlie the said spaced regions of said bottom Wall and a portion provided with means for looking within the recess in order to enable the tightening of the plug into the recess to cause the said plug bottom portion to press the insulated parallel-wire line and the like against said blades such that the blades pierce the insulation and conductively engage the line, and an insulating receptacle for said connector, the receptacle having a pair of apertures, each including a pair of arms defining a V- shaped aperture, for receiving the said prongs and having an intermediate aperture for receiving said guiding pin, there being provided rearward of each of said pair of V- shaped apertures a resilient leaf spring positioned to cover an arm of the V-shaped aperture at the rear thereof in order resiliently to lock against the prong therein inserted.

4. A connector as claimed in claim 3 and in which each said spring comprises a curved terminal portion against which the corresponding prong engages as it is inserted into the corresponding V-shaped aperture.

5. A connector as claimed in claim 4 and in which each prong is provided with notch means for locking over the curved terminal portion of the corresponding spring.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,404,098 1/1922 Dennis 33'9--196 2,159,939 5/1939 Chirelstein 339-195 2,989,720 6/1961 Rivkin 3399'9 3,032,740 5/1962 Von Hoorn 339-195 FOREIGN PATENTS 58,011 9/ 1940 Denmark. 383,458 1/ 1965 Switzerland.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner JOSEPH H. McGLYNN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

